The billionaire businessman lashed out against Fox News' Megyn Kelly for her questions during the campaign's first debate. She had asked the candidate about his use of derogatory language toward women and whether it reflected the "temperament of a man we should elect as president."

Referring to Kelly's questions, Trump told CNN in an interview late Friday, "There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."

He said that "while Mr. Trump resonates with a lot of people with his bluntness, including me to a degree, there are just real lines of decency a person running for president should not cross."

Trump's campaign was incensed - and unbowed.

Addressing the audience at the RedState Gathering, Erickson decided to read out some of the "entertaining" hate mail he had received from angry Trump supporters, including one who claimed he was "so sick of political correctness that I may puke" and appeared to refer to President Obama as an "ass" and Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton as a "whore".

"Shame on you, Erick, she was very clearly on her period," Erickson said, reading out another, which was met with dismayed groans. "I'm a woman. I want my America back, and I refuse to let Fox News dictate to me who the presiden will be. Mr. Trump is not politically correct. He's a great American. F-you."

Finishing reading out his selection of expletive-laden emails, Mr Erickson concluded to a round of applause: "You know. I need to tell you guys, I made the right decision."

In a follow-up statement Saturday morning, Trump's camp intensified the personal attack against Erickson, slammed Kelly again and contended that the candidate's precise words on CNN were "blood was coming out of her eyes and whatever." That description deviated from the telephone interview that aired.